Registration of a funeral

Please note in particular our information under:

  • Service description

    Every corpse must be buried. Any person who finds a body or in whose presence a person dies shall immediately notify the relatives or the police.

    Every practicing physician who can be reached is obliged to perform the post-mortem examination without delay and to issue and hand over the death certificate. The same applies to physicians in hospitals and comparable institutions for those who have died there. The person in charge must arrange for the post-mortem examination without delay. Burial is generally possible no earlier than 48 hours after the occurrence of death. Corpses must be buried or cremated within 10 days of the occurrence of death. They can be buried in the ground or cremated. In Rhineland-Palatinate, burial requires a burial permit, which is issued by the local regulatory authority of the place of burial in the case of burial in Rhineland-Palatinate. In addition, a grave application must usually be submitted to the cemetery administration if the gravesite is to be provided with a gravestone or other structural facility.

    The obligations under the Burial Act must be fulfilled by the heir. If this cannot be determined in time or cannot be claimed in time for other reasons, the following persons are responsible in this order, provided they have full legal capacity:

    1. the spouse or life partner,
    2. the children,
    3. the parents,
    4. the other guardian,
    5. the siblings,
    6. the grandparents,
    7. the grandchildren.

  • What documents are needed?

    For burial: a death certificate, death certificate, burial permit.

    In the case of urn burial, a certificate of the second official necropsy before cremation.

  • What are the fees?

    There are fees

    • for the issuance of the death certificate,
    • the issuance of the burial permit
    • and other necessary official acts.

    If the persons liable for burial do not arrange for the burial of a deceased person, the burial shall be arranged by the competent local regulatory authority and the persons liable for burial shall be liable for the costs incurred.
    Special instructions for - Verbandsgemeinde Göllheim

    For the issuance of a burial permit, fees in the amount of 19.00 euros are incurred. For the issuance of a death certificate there are fees of 12.00 Euro (each additional copy ordered at the same time 6.00 Euro).


  • Legal basis

    Municipal bylaws

  • What else should I know?

    Violation of the funeral obligation is an administrative offense. If the relatives are not in a position to bear the funeral costs and the estate of the deceased is also insufficient, the relatives can apply to the relevant social welfare office to have the funeral costs covered.


Who do I need to contact?

Special instructions for - Verbandsgemeinde Göllheim

For a burial permit, please contact the registry office of the municipality of Göllheim.

Responsible departments

Responsible employees